The sphygmomanometer or blood pressure cuff was invented by Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter von Basch in 1881 and it was revised numerous times over the next decades. The purpose of blood pressure testing is to determine the amount of pressure necessary for the heart to adequately pump blood throughout the body.

The reading is divided into two separate numbers. Systolic pressure is the larger of the two numbers and measures the pressure the heart is exerting to pump blood to the rest of the body. In a healthy adult this number should be between 110-125 although slight variations higher can be considered within normal limits. The diastolic number, the smaller of the two, normallyy between 70-85 indicates the pressure on the heart in its relaxed states, between beats.

Many external as well as internal factors can impact blood pressure including fear, pain, excitement and exertion. Even body position can change a person's blood pressure.

Significant medical information can be obtained using a sphygmomanometer and medical practitioners can use this simple test to diagnose and treat various conditions. Left uncontrolled, serious deviations in blood pressure, whether caused by an acute circumstance such as an injury or shock or a long term problem that is causing chronic high blood pressure can lead to serious health complications and even death.

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